The Celtics made their White House visit yesterday, presenting George W. Bush with a #43 jersey; because he’s the 43rd President, not because he’s a huge Kendrick Perkins fan. Bush gave Paul Pierce props for playing hurt (surely giving Lakers’ fans still in the “He faked it” camp a headache), and said, “For baby boomers like me, [the Finals] was a reminder of a great basketball rivalry. Boston fans were screaming, ‘Beat L.A.!’ at the top of their lungs, and that’s exactly what this team did in six hard-fought games.” Hard-fought? GW must have missed Game Six … Gilbert Arenas pulled back on that early-December return date he initially gave, writing on his blog that it’ll be more like sometime between mid-December and early-January. Given the huge investment the Wizards made in him, Arenas would do everyone a favor by not rushing a comeback this time, but we also know it’s gonna kill him if he can’t play in that big Wizards/Cavs national TV game on Christmas Day. If you were getting paid Arenas’ kind of money, would you be more likely to push it to come back ASAP or more inclined to take your time? … For years, everyone has wanted Rasheed Wallace to spend more time on the low-block and less time hanging 25 feet away from the basket. Michael Curry tells the Detroit Free Press he’s going to put ‘Sheed in the post more often, but that ‘Sheed needs to do his part by getting in better shape to handle the physicality. We like the idea, but we also see this possibly ending badly for Curry if ‘Sheed isn’t fully on-board. Ask Flip Saunders what it’s like when ‘Sheed hasn’t bought in to what you’re trying to do as a coach … Just how good are the Blazers? We previewed Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and Co. yesterday, and while they’ve definitely got potential to make the playoffs and even advance a round, there’s also a decent chance they end up back in the Lottery. While the team is talented on paper, they don’t have any postseason experience and they have to get some kind of chemistry with so many newcomers. A couple weeks ago we told you about Travis Outlaw‘s comments about getting more touches, and now Sergio Rodriguez is saying he needs more PT. “I like Portland a lot. But if I continue playing so little, it’s clear I would like to leave,” Spanish Chocolate told a Spanish newspaper. Rodriguez obviously wasn’t too thrilled, then, when he found out about the Blazers’ interest in Shaun Livingston, because he’s already got a huge hurdle in front of him named Jerryd Bayless … If you missed Dwight Howard throwing out the first pitch at Thursday’s Rays/Red Sox game, you can see it HERE. Nothing special either way about the pitch, but one of the Tampa announcers did mention that Dwight had on “the biggest baseball jersey I’ve ever seen.” … Remember Jumaine Jones? He’s been barred from playing in Europe for one year by FIBA because he signed two contracts with two different teams at once, Ural Great (Russia) and Armani Jeans (Danilo Gallinari‘s old team in Italy). Did Jumaine realize what he was doing or was it an accident? Either way, the whole thing sounds like the setup to a bad episode of “Hang Time: The College Years” … Oklahoma City is excited to have an NBA team. Maybe too excited. There was an entire article in the Oklahoman yesterday about the guy under the Sonics’ former “Squatch” mascot and the fact that he’s moving to OKC to suit up as the Thunder’s as-yet-unnamed mascot. The guy, Marc Taylor, was also the WNBA Seattle Storm mascot “Doppler,” and earlier in his career dressed up as the Ram mascot when attended Colorado State University, and was the mascot when he was in high school. So what exactly are the Thunder gonna trot out on gamedays? The Warriors already have a mascot named “Thunder” — the Blue Man Group-looking dude with the cape — so what will OKC have: Lightning? A dangerous-looking cloud? A comical weatherman? … Have you seen the commercial for Righteous Kill where the narrator bills the movie as Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro being “together at last” on-screen? So apparently we’ve all decided that Heat never happened, is that it? … We’re out like Jumaine …

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09.20.08 at 12:16 am

Chekmate

about time sheed was put in the post.

first

09.20.08 at 12:20 am

Amar

I think it is entirely ridiculous the amount of hype portland is getting. Houston I can understand, they haven’t been out of the first round forever, but guys like ESPN and TNT still show them enough love through thick and thin that adding Brent Barry and Ron Artest *obviously* equates west finals in the minds of TV execs . . . portland is not far behind on the hype bandwagon.

I don’t want to sound like Hubie Brown here, but sure, Portland has Brandon Roy who is an All-Star, and he’s going to give you 20 points per night, and they have all of this talent that is untested in the NBA. Does anyone really know how good Oden is? Or how good he will be? We all assume that he’s going to be a superstar, but how many times has he been injured? Most players don’t get healthier after age 50, so it remains to be seen if he can anchor the paint in the west for his club. LaMarcus is good, and their international core is flashy . . . but then again, the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns are flashy. How many division/conference titles have they won the last few seasons?

Portland is young and their owner doesn’t mind spending money. These are good things. Do they mean that they are going to win 50 next season? Probably not. They have the potential to be a really strong team down the road, but let’s not annoint them (or the rockets for that matter) before they even make it through a full regular season intact.

09.20.08 at 12:21 am

King Koopa

First

09.20.08 at 12:22 am

Amar

btw, in addition to sending out iRoys to voting media and coaches this season, is paul allen going to sent out iOlds to generate hype for Greg Oden?

09.20.08 at 12:22 am

King Koopa

shit!
6th, i guess…

09.20.08 at 1:00 am

Tim

Sheed in the paint equals championship for the Pistons…especially if he decides to go at Garnett and not be his best friend.

09.20.08 at 1:18 am

QuEsT????

sergio rodriguez is pretty good, maybe jumaine wanted to pull a deion sanders, u know play for one team during the day and for the other doing the night. he did it on purpose to get money.

09.20.08 at 2:29 am

Xavier Garcia

You guys are doing some mighty selective quoting on Rodriguez’s statements.

He went on for like 8 questions saying how happy he was in Portland and how he believes the team wants him (reiterates that several times) and that he has worked his ass off in the summer, but only in the last question when the reporter pits him against the wall does he say he would like to play more (and how would ANYBODY answer the question “If you play less, would you like to leave?”)

Jus’ sayin’

09.20.08 at 2:45 am

J Tok

i’m surprised you guys didn’t post anything about D Miles and how much of an idiot he is.
knicks 4 life.
Prime

09.20.08 at 3:05 am

rkraicek

Ok, so Sheed goes years hanging around the 3 point line, and no one busts on him. Mehmet Okur goes years doing the same thing, and he’s “soft”. Dumb Europeans. They don’t have heart or hardness (you know, except for Italians or guys from Bosnia/Serbia/etc) like black guys do.

And yea, Sergio Rodriguez has no reason to be upset. Except that he’s among the acclaimed “arriving Blazers players”, and Shaun Livingston is among the “arriving injured players that also hasn’t shown anything in the League”. Reverse racism never happens, completely coincidentally.

09.20.08 at 3:06 am

Three Stacks

If I’m Danny Ainge and the C’s, I’m putting D-Miles in more than ten games just to screw with the Blazers’ cap space.

If OKC’s mascot is gonna be weather related, it should be a giant foam hurricane. At least we know they’d on beat New Orleans every time, then.

(lol, sorry for the crass joke)

09.20.08 at 3:42 am

QuEsT????

@ xavier those drawings are the shit man damn they are good

09.20.08 at 3:43 am

Camp Lo

“A guy told me one time, ‘Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.'” (DeNiro, Heat).

Kinda reminds me of Larry Brown…

09.20.08 at 3:47 am

dagwaller

Hahaha @ three stacks.

09.20.08 at 4:23 am

solomon

king koopa’s on an epic fail…

sergio rodriguez – was he even on the national team? even legit nba point calderon didn’t get burn in that squad for whatever reason – he needs to keep that ego/head in check…

we’re out like heat

09.20.08 at 4:37 am

alf (from melmak)

sheed to me is one of the most under appreciated players in the league, ever. its debatable, but he is one of the best ever to play the game. him not being named to any of the olympic squads is a big crime.

i just cant wait to see him one day as a head coach in the nba. take thad david stern. he has true knowledge of the game and speaks his mind.

09.20.08 at 5:09 am

lee

Sheed has go soft and is coasting. He’ll retire soon enough

09.20.08 at 5:54 am

Amar

sheed one of the most underappreciate players ever? dude, you need to learn about marquice johnson . . .

09.20.08 at 8:11 am

sans

alf…go back to melmak. Sheed could be one of the best ever, but isn’t. He has a rarely exercised yet phenomenal skill set. He’s a lot like Vince Carter, but seems to be a real chill, humble dude.

09.20.08 at 8:30 am

sans

seriously, sheed is arguably a top five pf…
Big Fundamental
KG
Amare
Chris Bosh
David West
Boozer
all come ahead of Sheed in the clutch (except Boozer in last year’s playoffs).

Sheed’s great but needs to stop working on shot’s like these:

not that HORSE shots aren;t great and all. Sheed seems cool as hell but he needs to put up 12 shots within 12 feet a game, then stretch his range.

props to BALL DON”T LIE fo the link to this.

09.20.08 at 8:38 am

JM3008

In Heat they never actually filmed together, they used body doubles and filmed their lines at different times

Some Hollywood buuuuullllshiiiit…..

09.20.08 at 8:39 am

the sad truth

King Poopa wasn’t first and it ruined Poopa’s night.

Why do so many girls like to post ‘first’?

Is there some National Vagina Recognition award that says “I’m home at all times, bored on my computer, waiting to ‘win’ at something”

09.20.08 at 8:46 am

that's whats up

personally I don’t see Arenas ever again playing more than 70 games in a season. I mean, what the f*** Gil ??? Are you hurt, are you better, did you rush back last year to screw up the Wiz chemistry, did you wait to long for your next-next-next surgery???? Are you interested in the NBA or is it just a vehicle to promote whatever it is you are?

Fuck Gil, take the year off – don’t play at all this year and next year we’ll see if you can actually help your TEAM or if anyone really cares that you’re back at all.

P.S. Congrats on that 111 mill. Maybe Sony is inventing an “Arenas Chillin’ At Home” video game you can buy and play until mid-decemeber, mid-january…..whenever….

09.20.08 at 8:51 am

sans

it’s not like Gil wouldn’t rather be playing ball…not like the Wiz had to give him $111M, but they did. It’s not Gil’s fault that Wizards management competes and collects Special Olympics medals. He just cashed in on it.

09.20.08 at 8:58 am

that's whats up

no doubt – can’t hate on the paper. Anyone would do that.
I can hate on heart (???) and intentions.

special olympics medals — funny….

09.20.08 at 9:00 am

sans

i’ve reffed the Special Olympics a bunch of times. You never want to throw a tech, and you collect a lot of high fives from the players, which is really unusual for a referee.

09.20.08 at 9:02 am

Big Ael

I am his fan. I saw him dating on a FREE & HOT dating site called___tallloving.com___,where are many basketball players and modles Seems he is hooking up with a hottie. The modle is from California. Very soft and sexy.

09.20.08 at 9:03 am

Big Ael

He’s a big star. I am his big fan. I saw him dating on a FREE & HOT dating site called ___tallloving.com__,where are many basketball players and hot modles. Seems he is hooking up with a hottie. The girl is from California. Very soft and sexy.

09.20.08 at 9:26 am

sans

how the fuck do you misspell “models”?

09.20.08 at 9:44 am

Dagomar

Sorry guys, Detroit’s core is clearly on the downside of their careers, Sheed won’t play in the paint for long, and the new guys are too young to pick up all of the slack. I see them winning maybe 50 games, but unless changes are made nobody’s going to be scared of them in the playoffs.

I had them as a possible championship contender since 2004 until they lost to the Cavs in the playoffs the first time. Then it was obvious: Billups isn’t the clutch player he used to be, Sheed is a walking time bomb who won’t do what his team needs him to do, Prince is great but can’t take over a game (and gets served by Bron), Rip is a solid jumpshooter who depends on screens to get open, and McDyess is on his last legs. The team simply lacks a dominant inside player and/or a guy who can take over a game. Dumars should have made a trade; his core’s value isn’t going up, and is he really THAT sure his young guns will turn into stars? Other than Stuckey I see the Pistons youth movement producing good – not great – players. If anything I think Dumars did nothing because he continued to overrate his assets; Sheed might still be a top-3 big guy in terms of talent, but can he really help a team win anymore?

Sometimes ‘Sheed a chill Philly cat, but he’s going to give Curry headaches. Dunlevy and Pippen wanted ‘Sheed to play the post in Pdx and we all know how that turned out.

Yeah maybe the Blazers are over-hyped, but considering a lot of us Blazers (and Philly) fans haven’t had a team to be excited about in a long time– we’re going to hype the shit out of these teams all the way into the post season.

09.20.08 at 11:06 am

SteveNash

Robert DeNiro – i’ve been a knicks fan for 16 years, wish i would have left them 30 seconds ago though!!!

09.20.08 at 12:48 pm

Joe

@ Amar – So Portland is being way over hyped because “experts” think they have a shot at the playoffs this year? That’s all just hype? I know they didn’t make the playoffs last year, but to completely dismiss them as hype this year would be a mistake.

By the way, the “Oden is old” jokes are becoming just that….old. When people mekes jokes like that, they are grasping at straws at ways to make the Blazers seem less relevant. If you think he’s old now, just wait, you will be able to make this joke for the next 15 years as he leads the Blazers defense against all comers.

It’s OK though, I understand. If I was a fan of a different team, I would be hoping it was all hype too.

09.20.08 at 1:48 pm

pigswithlipstick

Heat was overrated imho.
Damn that Thunder name is so tiiiight.
Word to yo mutha.

09.20.08 at 2:10 pm

mike

yeah in Heat they are basically never on screen together, there is only one frame in the diner that you can see both of them..

09.20.08 at 2:39 pm

Austin Burton

@Mike — What was all that about? Do Pacino and DeNiro not like each other? Was somebody worried about getting upstaged in that scene? I also remember they were both in Godfather II but never on screen together (which made sense due to the flashback storyline).

09.20.08 at 2:40 pm

jay rich

If the blazers pan out like they are supposed 2 they will be the team of the future. That’s y they get the hype. Jus like whenever a bigtime college player comes in th league he gets hype b/c of what he is supposed 2 be. So yea they deserve the hype.

Gil I love you man I thought you were gonna be the next best scorer but frankly im tired of hearing that you are healthy. I don’t trust that shit no more. If you wanna jus sit at home and blog all day then do that. Let the team go foward with caron

09.20.08 at 3:26 pm

Quest???

@ austin there was a scene on heat where they appeared together though

09.20.08 at 5:13 pm

Luigi

wow..nice nice

09.20.08 at 6:34 pm

DT

Really, how are you guys questioning Gil’s heart? Really? Sure he rushed his comeback and has had bad luck getting back on the court but you all are dead wrong to question his heart and desire to play again. Keep it up though, thats what Arenas feeds off of. I have no doubt he will do everything in his power to get back, he has a work ethic and desire matched by few in the L.

09.20.08 at 7:16 pm

JC

godfather II anyone? i believe they were in that movie too… maybe together as in same time (unlike godfather II) and same team (unlike heat)

09.20.08 at 8:23 pm

David_Brandon

@ DIME,
i just thought the comical weatherman part was funny for OKC’s mascot. name him ron burgundy.

09.20.08 at 9:28 pm

Meica

“Go fuck yourself, Oklahoma City!”

09.20.08 at 10:46 pm

Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend

@rkraicek
You might wanna google what racism is before u make more dumb comments. First off, callin someone soft isn’t racist. Thats like sayin a girl ball player is softer than a guy ball player, some people are just weak in the clutch, hence vince and odom. Secondly, even comparing sheed and okurs toughness is crazy. sheeds style is more rugged, his personallity is more rugged, his overall game is more physical and imposing. Okur is another tall shooter which is why detroit let him bounce in the first place. Also, maybe if sergio did anything with the time he was givin during games, they wouldnt need to look at livingston but no, he still has too many question marks. So lay off the race stuff just cuz u wanna cry about funky bitches.

09.21.08 at 12:49 am

QuEsT????

fuck u david brandon and fuck jameer nelson

09.21.08 at 1:15 am

Three Stacks

Does Avery Johnson have a job yet?

09.21.08 at 1:51 am

QuEsT???

@ three stacks yea he does special guest commentary on tnt… the bulls should have hired him. man mark jackson and avery johnson got screwed over big time this offseason

09.22.08 at 12:15 pm

Celts Fan

Heat was AMAZING, one of the best movies ever, BUT short of the diner scene and at the very end, they’re never in the same scene. Saw Righteous Kill over the weekend and they’re in just about every scene together, and all I can say about that movie is that if you’re thinking of seeing it, save yourself your $10 and punch yourself in the groin; it’ll cost less and feel about the same.